Summer Lifesavers

Summer is my favorite season but I must admit that the last few days have me rethinking my views.  It's been simply hot, 90 degrees at 6 pm is a little much. So how do you deal with this kind of heat when horses need to be fed, farm chores don't go away and work still beckons......

1) Early to Bed, Early to Rise
I get up dreadfully early this time of year......like 5ish during the week.  It's the only way to cope. Horses get ridden before 8 am.

2) Drink Lots of Water
Staying hydrated is half the battle. I'm a bubbly water type, but any kind of water will do.

3) Moisturize
A free sample of this stuff sold me.  There is a night version and a day version. Both are divine.

4) Make Lists
I have so much to do in summer (on the farm) that I make long lists and even if I don't get through them, it makes me feel like I have accomplished something.

5) Make Good Use of the Long Days
I was jogging last night at 7:45 pm.  Works for me.

6) Wear These
How did we survive without these?  Sun shirts are the perfect summer shirt, cool, keeps the sun out (I am not a fan of suntans).

7) Lilly!
Need I say more!

It's Hip to be Square

Now that summer is in full swing, out to the patio we go to dine almost every night.  Nothing would look finer than these hip square placemats from Pomegranate.  I love them!

 The linen ones will dress things up a bit....

 The rafia ones come in fun colors..

You can find them here.

Happy Friday!

Scenes From Sewickley Hunt Horse Show

Last weekend I was in Pittsburgh, working the Sewickley Hunt Horse Show.  We had a great turnout and the weather was picture perfect.  Only at a "hunt" horse show would you find a mobile bloody mary bar.  Love, love it!

 My friend Lucy has a lovely new horse and she won her class at her very first horse show!

 Many more blues in this horse's future....

 A Bit Above Saddlery had their mobile unit there with lots of goodies. I fell in total love with this Grand Prix Show Coat which is brown with black piping and a black collar in the new high tech fabrics. This one would have come home with me had it been in my size.

 I also loved some of their clothing which really does not have an equestrian look to it.  Look at the detailing on this shirt....

 This polo shirt is the same brand and so cute with the tailored hem.

 You can find these shirts here.
And I loved the fox which welcomed the exhibitors to the horse show office.....

The Wait is Over!

Sometimes a picture is worth more than any words could express.....

 37 years is a long wait....

Asmar Equestrian Coats

I've been on the road quite a bit lately and spent the past weekend with some old horsey friends near Pittsburgh.  It was a great weekend (and the Triple Crown winner didn't hurt) and the weather was fantastic. These great ladies from A Bit Above Saddlery were nice enough to model these great looking coats from Asmar Equestrian.  I thought that everyone would love them as they are so cute that you could and should use this as a lightweight coat for city wear and for riding. See them here.

 The pink one (punch) was my favorite.  The hood is big enough to cover your riding helmet. 

 The yellow one is also very charming but I think it depends on what color looks best on you. The pink one was a better color for me.

 I just love these coats.  The model above is ideal for someone who just wants a cute lightweight rain coat or just a jacket for summer or spring wear.  That you can ride in them just adds to the allure.  Asmar makes other models too and you can find them most anywhere.  They are made in Canada.

You know about the coat fetish.  At least one of these will end up in my closet, I am certain.

American Pharoah, the Stealth Slew?

Even before American Pharoah won the Derby, people like D. Wayne Lucas (the Hall of Fame trainer) were comparing the striking bay colt to another striking bay colt, the only undefeated Triple Crown winner, Seattle Slew.

American Pharoah, like Seattle Slew, has an undeniable brilliance about him. He’s got blazing speed and hadn't been challenged in any of his victories except the Derby.

Younger folks might be surprised to know that even after he swept the Triple Crown, Seattle Slew really wasn’t embraced by the racing public because he did what he did against the Run Dusty Runs and Sanhedrins of the world. And this was during an age when Triple Crown winners were numerous - Secretariat in 1973, Affirmed in 1978 with Slew sandwiched in between. Seattle Slew’s greatness wasn’t fully acknowledged until he was 4.  And there is still talk about AP's very slow time in the Derby.  It was not a fast race by Derby standards.  But I am hoping for a winner like everyone else. We need another Seattle Slew, badly.

Elizabeth Turner Needlepoint

One of my favorite needlepoint designers, Elizabeth Turner, is having a trunk show at Needlepoint.comhttp://www.needlepoint.com/shop/all-canvases/elizabeth-turner-trunk-show.html in Raleigh, NC.  They have a great web site and the designs are 20% off during the show.  She does some of the best equestrian-related canvases (she is based in Lexington, KY).  Love her stuff.  Here are some of my favorites:

This jockey cumerbund is adorable:

 Another cumerbund:

She also has great belts. Stitch away this summer!